Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-550

Type IXC/40 submarine

German submarine U-550
Unknown author — http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBCUTTERS/Joyce.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons Plate Photographed from USS Joyce (DE-317), which rescued 13 of her survivors. Joyce had a Coast Guard crew."; NP 26-G-2556; photographer unknown.

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-55028 July 1943 — 16 April 1944263 days of the war
Type IXC/40 submarine Particulars
Name
U-550
Builder
Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Ordered
5 June 1941
Laid down
2 October 1942
Launched
12 May 1943
Commissioned
28 July 1943
Fate
Sunk on 16 April 1944 (1944)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
1,126 long tons (1,144 t)
Displacement, submerged
1,237 long tons (1,257 t)
Length
76.76 m (251.8 ft) OA
Beam
6.86 m (22.5 ft)
Draught
4.67 m (15.3 ft)
Speed
18.3 knots (33.9 km/h, 21.1 mph)
Range
13,850 nmi (25,650 km)
Complement
48
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

U-550 was a Type IXC/40 submarine in service with the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Deutsche Werft, Hamburg on 2 October 1942. Launched on 12 May 1943, she entered service on 28 July 1943.

142 ships of the class were built. The class followed the Type I and was succeeded by the Type XXI.

The boat displaced 1,126 long tons surfaced and 1,237 long tons submerged. She measured 76.8 m (252 ft) long with a beam of 6.9 m (23 ft). Her designed speed was 18.3 knots, and she carried a complement of 48.

Her main battery was one 105 mm (4.1 in) guns.

She was in commission for 263 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 16 April 1944, at 39°51′N 71°58′W. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Power
  • 4400 PS (diesels)
  • 1000 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern)
  • 22 × 53.3 cm torpedoes
  • 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 deck gun (180 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm SK C/30 AA gun
  • 1 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns

Sister ships

117 more in the class

Sources

  • Facts harvested from German submarine U-550 on Wikipedia. Figures only — no wording is taken from it.
  • Photograph: Unknown author — http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBCUTTERS/Joyce.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons